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Instructions for a Broken Heart
Three days before her drama club's trip to Italy, Jessa Gardner discovers her boyfriend in the costume barn with another girl. Jessa is left with a care package from her best friend titled "Top Twenty Reasons He's a Slimy Jerk Bastard," instructing her to do one un-Jessa-like thing each day of the trip. At turns hilarious and heartwrenching, Instructions for a Broken Heart paints a magical Italy in which Jessa learns she must figure out life-and romance-for herself.
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
56 people are currently reading
2634 people want to read
About the author
Kim Culbertson
9 books375 followersKim Culbertson is the author of the teen novels THE WONDER OF US (Scholastic 2017), THE POSSIBILITY OF NOW (Scholastic 2016), CATCH A FALLING STAR (Scholastic 2014), INSTRUCTIONS FOR A BROKEN HEART (Sourcebooks 2011), and SONGS FOR A TEENAGE NOMAD (Sourcebooks 2010).
She believes books make the world a better place.
Happy Reading!
www.kimculbertson.com
She believes books make the world a better place.
Happy Reading!
www.kimculbertson.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
May 30, 2011
Warning: If you loved/liked this book or if you don’t like to read spoilers, please don’t continue with my review. I’ve got lots of spew and spoilers to share, and I feel I’ve earned the right to do so seeing as this craptastic story threw me into a book slump for close to two weeks! I actually hissed at my beloved Nook… HISSED!!... every time I picked it up trying to finish Instructions for a Broken Heart it was that bad IMO!
I usually reserve the One Star Honor Rating for books I simply can’t finish, but I’m breaking my book rating rule for this sucktastic book. The writing was contrived, the characters were annoying, and the plot was poorly executed. I’m surprised I even finished it considering how many times I fell asleep trying to read it or how often I almost threw my Nook against the wall because of my irritation over the characters and the writing.
So let me start off with the characters.
I could not come to like Jessa Gardner the MC… AT.ALL!! She had no qualities I found likeable. She’s such a whiny, constant crier that for the love of GAWD wasted a dream trip to Italy by angsting over her ex-boyfriend who was nothing but a cheater and a nasty jerk. This annoying girl really wasn’t a strong enough character to carry the story and how she made her break up with her boyfriend a public part of the school’s trip to Italy had me rolling my eyes so often that I might have suffered from permanent eye-ball damage. Boo!!! Seriously, she traveled Florence, Venice, Sorrento and Capri… some of the most beautiful places in the world and she wasted it over a BOY! I wanted to yell at her… “GROW UP!” Then during the trip, she attacked her teacher’s face and tried to choke him with her tongue. I think she was out to ruin the trip for absolutely everyone, not just herself. Poke my eyes out… PLEASE!
Next, Dylan THOMAS. First off, let me say, drop the THOMAS. Dylan is a nice, stand-alone name. Adding the THOMAS makes him sound pretentious, and it just reminds me of Justin ENOS. Not necessary. Okay, he was such a minor character in this entire story and … spoiler alert…. Jessa ends up with him!?! Really?!? I missed the catch there. I could not understand why he even hung around with Jessa, and he fell for her as she cried over her ex-boyfriend and angsted over how unfair life was that Sean cheated on her and Natalie had bigger b00bs than her. I would buy it if they had known eachother for a while, but Dylan THOMAS met Jessa during the school trip, and the only exposure he had with her was watching her throw orange soda on Sean’s face and dispairing over his cheating ways. Yeah, that came off a bit contrived.
Also, Tyler and Carrissa… yeah, I wouldn’t call them quality friend material. They both lied to Jessa about Carrissa making out with Sean. I don’t think I could easily forgive or forget that. Maybe with time, but she let that go too easily IMO. So what I’m trying to say is that even the secondary characters sucked arse.
Now on to the writing. I was choking on the similes, metaphors, and comparisons used throughout this book. It actually became a game to see how many I can spot. So pretty much, the only motivation I had continuing with this book was finding another distracting comparison. That’s how disconnected I was with the storyline. Some of the comparisons were so contrived I have to point them out:
“…her own voice sticky, thick, sounding like she’d swallowed cotton.”
“Last thing she needed was a reflection like that right now, like a Smurf with the stomach flu.”
“Jessa shook her head as if she could clear the image of Sean and Natalie like the Etch A Sketch app on her dad’s iPhone.”
“Being around Jade was always a bit like being glazed with fairy dust.”
“The red head had a laugh like a howler monkey.”
“The dawn spread across the Italian countryside like syrup.”
“…their relationskhip, not even fully formed, like a bubble emerging from a wand…”
“…his calloused hands, like a butterfly on my arm…”
“She ran her hands through her hair, the red like blood in the torchlight.”
Ugh! See what I mean?!?
Lastly, there were little mysteries that were thrown in here and there and when their big reveals occurred, they were so poorly executed and so contrived that I’d practically lose it!! For example, the mystery of Jessa’s scar on her arm. She’d keep making up stories about how she got the scar and at the end we find out she got it when she was five and cut her arm climbing under a fence. Okay, that was a waste! Then we find out that the only reason Giacomo joined the trip was not because he got kicked out of school… REBEL! BUT, because his mother kept the key to his lockbox and all he wanted to do was meet his boyfriend in San Franscico. Ugh! Another waste! Then, we find out Natalie didn’t really get a b00b job but it’s a “condition” that runs through her family, where the women grow big b00bs in a matter of months. GAG! Lastely, we find out Dylan THOMAS has a thing for Jessa, for what reason, I have no clue and she suddenly decides she’s over Sean and texts Dylan THOMAS to get a thing going. I’m done! This book sucked!
There was a part of me that wanted to add a Song Choice at the end of my review, but I’m not going to waste a song on this book. It just wasn’t for me and I’m really surpised I finished it. It should come with a serious Book Slump Candidate Warning. I can’t recommend this to... well... anyone. ^^
I usually reserve the One Star Honor Rating for books I simply can’t finish, but I’m breaking my book rating rule for this sucktastic book. The writing was contrived, the characters were annoying, and the plot was poorly executed. I’m surprised I even finished it considering how many times I fell asleep trying to read it or how often I almost threw my Nook against the wall because of my irritation over the characters and the writing.
So let me start off with the characters.
I could not come to like Jessa Gardner the MC… AT.ALL!! She had no qualities I found likeable. She’s such a whiny, constant crier that for the love of GAWD wasted a dream trip to Italy by angsting over her ex-boyfriend who was nothing but a cheater and a nasty jerk. This annoying girl really wasn’t a strong enough character to carry the story and how she made her break up with her boyfriend a public part of the school’s trip to Italy had me rolling my eyes so often that I might have suffered from permanent eye-ball damage. Boo!!! Seriously, she traveled Florence, Venice, Sorrento and Capri… some of the most beautiful places in the world and she wasted it over a BOY! I wanted to yell at her… “GROW UP!” Then during the trip, she attacked her teacher’s face and tried to choke him with her tongue. I think she was out to ruin the trip for absolutely everyone, not just herself. Poke my eyes out… PLEASE!
Next, Dylan THOMAS. First off, let me say, drop the THOMAS. Dylan is a nice, stand-alone name. Adding the THOMAS makes him sound pretentious, and it just reminds me of Justin ENOS. Not necessary. Okay, he was such a minor character in this entire story and … spoiler alert…. Jessa ends up with him!?! Really?!? I missed the catch there. I could not understand why he even hung around with Jessa, and he fell for her as she cried over her ex-boyfriend and angsted over how unfair life was that Sean cheated on her and Natalie had bigger b00bs than her. I would buy it if they had known eachother for a while, but Dylan THOMAS met Jessa during the school trip, and the only exposure he had with her was watching her throw orange soda on Sean’s face and dispairing over his cheating ways. Yeah, that came off a bit contrived.
Also, Tyler and Carrissa… yeah, I wouldn’t call them quality friend material. They both lied to Jessa about Carrissa making out with Sean. I don’t think I could easily forgive or forget that. Maybe with time, but she let that go too easily IMO. So what I’m trying to say is that even the secondary characters sucked arse.
Now on to the writing. I was choking on the similes, metaphors, and comparisons used throughout this book. It actually became a game to see how many I can spot. So pretty much, the only motivation I had continuing with this book was finding another distracting comparison. That’s how disconnected I was with the storyline. Some of the comparisons were so contrived I have to point them out:
“…her own voice sticky, thick, sounding like she’d swallowed cotton.”
“Last thing she needed was a reflection like that right now, like a Smurf with the stomach flu.”
“Jessa shook her head as if she could clear the image of Sean and Natalie like the Etch A Sketch app on her dad’s iPhone.”
“Being around Jade was always a bit like being glazed with fairy dust.”
“The red head had a laugh like a howler monkey.”
“The dawn spread across the Italian countryside like syrup.”
“…their relationskhip, not even fully formed, like a bubble emerging from a wand…”
“…his calloused hands, like a butterfly on my arm…”
“She ran her hands through her hair, the red like blood in the torchlight.”
Ugh! See what I mean?!?
Lastly, there were little mysteries that were thrown in here and there and when their big reveals occurred, they were so poorly executed and so contrived that I’d practically lose it!! For example, the mystery of Jessa’s scar on her arm. She’d keep making up stories about how she got the scar and at the end we find out she got it when she was five and cut her arm climbing under a fence. Okay, that was a waste! Then we find out that the only reason Giacomo joined the trip was not because he got kicked out of school… REBEL! BUT, because his mother kept the key to his lockbox and all he wanted to do was meet his boyfriend in San Franscico. Ugh! Another waste! Then, we find out Natalie didn’t really get a b00b job but it’s a “condition” that runs through her family, where the women grow big b00bs in a matter of months. GAG! Lastely, we find out Dylan THOMAS has a thing for Jessa, for what reason, I have no clue and she suddenly decides she’s over Sean and texts Dylan THOMAS to get a thing going. I’m done! This book sucked!
There was a part of me that wanted to add a Song Choice at the end of my review, but I’m not going to waste a song on this book. It just wasn’t for me and I’m really surpised I finished it. It should come with a serious Book Slump Candidate Warning. I can’t recommend this to... well... anyone. ^^
May 20, 2011
Instructions For a Broken heart was not the book I imagined it would be. Based on the blurb and the cover (and even the endorsement quote from Jennifer Echols) I was expecting a romantic coming-of-age book set against a gorgeous back-drop of Italy. It just sounded lovely, perhaps quirky (with the notes and the characters all being drama students) and also quite swoon-y.
However, it really failed to capture my attention.
Jessa was altogether too sulky and self-absorbed. I realise this was a character arc, but, gosh, it niggled at me and really didn't endear her to me. Also, Sean, the cheating boyfriend, was painted to be such a complete douche it made me wonder why she even was with him to start with, let alone be so shattered that their relationship had ended.
It is reminiscent of 13 Little Blue Envelopes only not as successful.
The setting felt decidedly un-atmospheric. They had excursions to some places but I didn't feel transported at all (not even when they went to Pompeii). The whole thing could have unfolded back in the states just as easily and I felt frustrated that one of the selling points of the book (the European setting) fell flat.
I had assumed, from the blurb, a new (hot) guy would come bounding onto the scene to help Jessa after her shattered heart. But he didn't turn up (!) and right at the last chapter when Jessa realises another guy was into her, it concludes with setting up their relationship. It seemed tacked on and could have ended without leaving her with another guy. Especially as there weren't really any sparks or romantic build-up between them throughout the book. It was so subtle it hardly counted.
The reality is ~ I do not think this book has appeal beyond teen readers. Too much high school relationship (melo)drama for me. It will appeal to people who like slowly unfolding coming-of-age stories and Sarah Dessen books (the ones that have no swoon).
However, it really failed to capture my attention.
Jessa was altogether too sulky and self-absorbed. I realise this was a character arc, but, gosh, it niggled at me and really didn't endear her to me. Also, Sean, the cheating boyfriend, was painted to be such a complete douche it made me wonder why she even was with him to start with, let alone be so shattered that their relationship had ended.
It is reminiscent of 13 Little Blue Envelopes only not as successful.
The setting felt decidedly un-atmospheric. They had excursions to some places but I didn't feel transported at all (not even when they went to Pompeii). The whole thing could have unfolded back in the states just as easily and I felt frustrated that one of the selling points of the book (the European setting) fell flat.
I had assumed, from the blurb, a new (hot) guy would come bounding onto the scene to help Jessa after her shattered heart. But he didn't turn up (!) and right at the last chapter when Jessa realises another guy was into her, it concludes with setting up their relationship. It seemed tacked on and could have ended without leaving her with another guy. Especially as there weren't really any sparks or romantic build-up between them throughout the book. It was so subtle it hardly counted.
The reality is ~ I do not think this book has appeal beyond teen readers. Too much high school relationship (melo)drama for me. It will appeal to people who like slowly unfolding coming-of-age stories and Sarah Dessen books (the ones that have no swoon).
May 20, 2011
Street corner optional May read.
We've all been there. High School. In love with some tool. Dumped by said tool. Devastated.
However, after being dumped I did not have to fly halfway around the world with said Dumper and his new girl toy with HUGE boobs (whom he was cheating with.) Poor girl. I did feel a certain amount of sisterly love and pity for her in the beginning.
BUT
seriously, she was in Italy. Put on your big girl panties and suck it up a little. Yeah, the situation sucked and I know in High School it seems like your world is over when 'the love of your life' breaks your heart, but COME ON already, She was in Italy!!! It's not like it was just the 3 of them, it was an entire drama group. The moping got pretty old.
The "Instructions" from Jessa's best-friend were a little ridiculous. I give Jessa some props from some of the things she did. I am a little chicken and wouldn't have done half of it!
My # 1 complaint though is this book is far too similiar to 13 Little Blue Envelopes, only not as good. I got a little bored. Next stop on my complaining tour is the little poetry/journal entries. I have no idea why, but they just bothered me. They were Pretentious . It didn't feel like something the immature character I was getting to know through her actions would be writing. I do have to admit though, it really couldn't have been to terrible if I finished it in 2 days, could it?!?!?! No, it wasn't terrible. I did have a little fun with it.
bottomline: If you're interested, try it out. You might be pleasantly suprised. I however, was not. Fans of Chick-lit for Young Adults will probably like this.
3.0 stars
Sidenote: I <3 Dylan Thomas. Now that was a character I wish we could have had more of!!!
We've all been there. High School. In love with some tool. Dumped by said tool. Devastated.
However, after being dumped I did not have to fly halfway around the world with said Dumper and his new girl toy with HUGE boobs (whom he was cheating with.) Poor girl. I did feel a certain amount of sisterly love and pity for her in the beginning.
BUT
seriously, she was in Italy. Put on your big girl panties and suck it up a little. Yeah, the situation sucked and I know in High School it seems like your world is over when 'the love of your life' breaks your heart, but COME ON already, She was in Italy!!! It's not like it was just the 3 of them, it was an entire drama group. The moping got pretty old.
The "Instructions" from Jessa's best-friend were a little ridiculous. I give Jessa some props from some of the things she did. I am a little chicken and wouldn't have done half of it!
My # 1 complaint though is this book is far too similiar to 13 Little Blue Envelopes, only not as good. I got a little bored. Next stop on my complaining tour is the little poetry/journal entries. I have no idea why, but they just bothered me. They were Pretentious . It didn't feel like something the immature character I was getting to know through her actions would be writing. I do have to admit though, it really couldn't have been to terrible if I finished it in 2 days, could it?!?!?! No, it wasn't terrible. I did have a little fun with it.
bottomline: If you're interested, try it out. You might be pleasantly suprised. I however, was not. Fans of Chick-lit for Young Adults will probably like this.
3.0 stars
Sidenote: I <3 Dylan Thomas. Now that was a character I wish we could have had more of!!!
May 20, 2011
Double-Yay for me!! I have finished reading Instructions for a Broken Heart not skimming or skipping one single page although I was less interested than I had expected during the first half of the book and quite bored during the second half.
May 4, 2011
1. You love gorgeous writing.
2. You like/love/would like to go to Italy.
3. You appreciate romance but hate saccharine.
4. You remember having your heart broken for the first time.
5. You like/love/need to be reminded that life isn't all gloom and doom.
6. You have fantasized at some point in your life about throwing an orange soda (or something equally messy) at someone who really deserved it.
7. You are not the kind of person who would actually throw a neon drink at someone.
8. You want to read a book with heart.
9. You want to read a book with a brain.
10. You have read too many books that lack either #8 or #9 above and are yearning for a book that balances the two.
11. You like real, complex characters, not "types."
12. You have been a good friend.
13. You have been a bad friend.
14. You know #12 and #13 above don't exist as absolutes.
15. You, like Jessa, the protagonist, love how plays and scenes within them are "So clean.... No fussy, messy strings and roads that led nowhere."
16. You love the messiness of real life, too.
17. You wish you had told an ex that his/her cologne smells like "possum pee."
18. You believe "Practicality can be its own prison."
19. You understand what it's like to feel too much.
20. You believe that discovering who you really are is the coolest field trip ever.
2. You like/love/would like to go to Italy.
3. You appreciate romance but hate saccharine.
4. You remember having your heart broken for the first time.
5. You like/love/need to be reminded that life isn't all gloom and doom.
6. You have fantasized at some point in your life about throwing an orange soda (or something equally messy) at someone who really deserved it.
7. You are not the kind of person who would actually throw a neon drink at someone.
8. You want to read a book with heart.
9. You want to read a book with a brain.
10. You have read too many books that lack either #8 or #9 above and are yearning for a book that balances the two.
11. You like real, complex characters, not "types."
12. You have been a good friend.
13. You have been a bad friend.
14. You know #12 and #13 above don't exist as absolutes.
15. You, like Jessa, the protagonist, love how plays and scenes within them are "So clean.... No fussy, messy strings and roads that led nowhere."
16. You love the messiness of real life, too.
17. You wish you had told an ex that his/her cologne smells like "possum pee."
18. You believe "Practicality can be its own prison."
19. You understand what it's like to feel too much.
20. You believe that discovering who you really are is the coolest field trip ever.
September 6, 2011
So, YA isn't really my thing. And in addition, books focusing on the journeys of soul-searching-women (girls in this case) aren't really my thing either. Don't get me started on Elizabeth Gilbert. But I read this even so, and enjoyed it all the way through. Kim has a knack for getting to and expressing the thoughts and motivations of kids this age, and emphasizing that there is more than meets the eye to all of them. If Jessa's personality quirks didn't remind me so much of myself at that age, I probably would have found her likable, but the musical-obsessed, slightly self-obsessed teenager definitely hit a cringe-nerve in terms of elements of my own personal teenage-hood that I don't think about too often. Had I read this at Jessa's age, I probably would have been more like, "OMG; that girl is totally just like me. How cool is that?! How cool is she?" At my curmudgeonly age, I just wanted to give her a good talking to and hand her a Dr. Dog CD. That said: solid plot, strong characters, witty dialogue, little twists and smart, non-condescending narrative make this an incredibly readable book, even for an old fart former drama nerd like me.
July 13, 2011
So. My first one star review. And on a book I thought I would love, no less. I feel really bad giving Instructions For A Broken Heart such a low rating - I tried so hard to find something, anything, I liked, but ultimately I drew a blank.
Reading that synopsis, I was expecting a light, fluffy novel, probably in the same vein as Anna and the French Kiss. Instead, I got an annoying main character that squanders a trip to beautiful Italy by being the most petty, pathetic and just downright annoying female lead that I have read in a long while. I mean, I understood that she was upset, she had every right to be. But her actions were just unbelievable. The things that should have made her mad, she completely ignored and things that were inconsequential had her in tears or performing a completely irrational response. I just could not relate or comprehend it at all.
The synopsis gave a hint that there’d be a romance with a cute Italian guy, but that never happened. Did I read a different book? Because the only romance (I use the word romance loosely, here) I saw came in the last 10 pages and was utterly pointless and confusing. There was an Italian guy, but he was involved in some ridiculous sub-plot that had nothing to do with the main story and seemed totally out of place.
I honestly felt perpetually confused while reading this book. There was no rhyme or reason to any of the character’s actions and none of them were particularly likable. I kept reading only for the fact that I thought it must get better. Unfortunately, it starts badly and just continues going down-hill. A disappointing read that I had such high hopes for.
Reading that synopsis, I was expecting a light, fluffy novel, probably in the same vein as Anna and the French Kiss. Instead, I got an annoying main character that squanders a trip to beautiful Italy by being the most petty, pathetic and just downright annoying female lead that I have read in a long while. I mean, I understood that she was upset, she had every right to be. But her actions were just unbelievable. The things that should have made her mad, she completely ignored and things that were inconsequential had her in tears or performing a completely irrational response. I just could not relate or comprehend it at all.
The synopsis gave a hint that there’d be a romance with a cute Italian guy, but that never happened. Did I read a different book? Because the only romance (I use the word romance loosely, here) I saw came in the last 10 pages and was utterly pointless and confusing. There was an Italian guy, but he was involved in some ridiculous sub-plot that had nothing to do with the main story and seemed totally out of place.
I honestly felt perpetually confused while reading this book. There was no rhyme or reason to any of the character’s actions and none of them were particularly likable. I kept reading only for the fact that I thought it must get better. Unfortunately, it starts badly and just continues going down-hill. A disappointing read that I had such high hopes for.
November 4, 2013
I really really had high hopes for this book and sadly it felt a little disappointed. I wanted to like Jessa and I wanted to like the instructions that Carissa had given her, but like Dylan Thomas in the book pointed out, the instructions were more for Carissa then for Jessa. It was stuff she didn't like about Sean or felt bad about. It didn't have to do with Jessa at all. And Jessa was kind of all over the place for me. I know she had her heart broken, but there was just something missing in her that made me feel badly. I will say that the book made me want to go to Italy though. All in all not what I had anticipated.
December 10, 2015
This book has been marketed as Eat. Pray. Love. for YA and for good reason. Instructions for a Broken Heart details the emotional journey and healing of Jessa Gardner as she travels around Italy on a school trip. The letters she receives from her best friend take her through the different stages of grief until she is finally able to really be over her ex, not only with help from the letters but also from the beautiful world around her and new friends.
YA contemporary isn't my favorite genre, but I really enjoyed this book, especially Jessa's questioning of whether she brought all her troubles upon herself because she was too busy to be a girlfriend, she had forgotten about her best friend, etc. A lot of issues Jessa faced were real for many teens (and adults, too), I think. How do you balance your future aspirations with making sure to live in the moment?
This isn't a romance book, although there is romance. It's a book about soul-searching, about discovering who you are and what you want to be. It would have been easy for Kim Culbertson to throw in an Italian love interest for Jessa or make Jessa's ex boyfriend be a huge jerk. But Culbertson doesn't take the easy road. She allows Jessa to wander her way through heartbreak without the advantage of falling for a new guy, and she actually creates a believable character in Sean, Jessa's ex - he made mistakes, but we can see why he chose to do what he did. And he's just as miserable as Jessa.
I was really impressed with how Culbertson portrayed all the relationships in this book, both romantic and not. There were a lot of hook ups and a lot of break ups, but not in a cheesy, dramatic way. They felt true-to-life. I remember in high school how everybody was going in and out of relationships like they were trying on new clothes, and there's definitely a level of that in this book. But Culbertson shows how, sometimes, that can really hurt you. A great issue for parents to discuss with their teens? I think so.
While I was expecting a little more romance from this book, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading about Jessa's story and how she handles love and loss and finding out her true identity. There's also a lot of amazing Italy-ness that made me want to hop on the next plane to Rome.
YA contemporary isn't my favorite genre, but I really enjoyed this book, especially Jessa's questioning of whether she brought all her troubles upon herself because she was too busy to be a girlfriend, she had forgotten about her best friend, etc. A lot of issues Jessa faced were real for many teens (and adults, too), I think. How do you balance your future aspirations with making sure to live in the moment?
This isn't a romance book, although there is romance. It's a book about soul-searching, about discovering who you are and what you want to be. It would have been easy for Kim Culbertson to throw in an Italian love interest for Jessa or make Jessa's ex boyfriend be a huge jerk. But Culbertson doesn't take the easy road. She allows Jessa to wander her way through heartbreak without the advantage of falling for a new guy, and she actually creates a believable character in Sean, Jessa's ex - he made mistakes, but we can see why he chose to do what he did. And he's just as miserable as Jessa.
I was really impressed with how Culbertson portrayed all the relationships in this book, both romantic and not. There were a lot of hook ups and a lot of break ups, but not in a cheesy, dramatic way. They felt true-to-life. I remember in high school how everybody was going in and out of relationships like they were trying on new clothes, and there's definitely a level of that in this book. But Culbertson shows how, sometimes, that can really hurt you. A great issue for parents to discuss with their teens? I think so.
While I was expecting a little more romance from this book, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading about Jessa's story and how she handles love and loss and finding out her true identity. There's also a lot of amazing Italy-ness that made me want to hop on the next plane to Rome.
July 8, 2015
This book was honestly one of the stupidest books I've ever read. I can't believe this is the same author who wrote Catch a Falling Star!
There are several reasons why I hated this book so much.
First, I thought the reasons that her friend chose were really lame. Some of them didn't even make sense. Like the one where Sean pronounced the name of the cafe wrong and everyone made fun of him. I honestly don't understand how him saying the name wrong made him a jerk. Aren't his friends the jerks for making fun of him? There were one or two reasons that I found plausible for him being a jerk. Like the one where they were playing the word game and he said that a girl, who was not his girlfriend, made him feel "amorous." That reason I can understand, but the other reasons didn't make me think of Sean as a jerk.
Second, Dylan Thomas. I got so sick of reading "Dylan Thomas said this" or "Dylan Thomas did that." Just get rid of the stupid Thomas!
Third, the main character. She wasted her whole trip complaining about Sean. Some of the ways she dealt with this were really immature, like when she threw the soda at him and the poem she read to the whole group. I mean seriously, I know she was upset, but she was in Italy! She might never get the chance to go there again and she wasted the trip.
Fourth, the supposed "cute Italian" she was supposed to meet. I kept wondering when he was going to show up and when he did, I didn't even find him cute. And then you find out he's gay! The way it sounded, she was going to fall in love with this guy and finally get over Sean. The premise for this book was very misleading.
Fifth, when she kissed her teacher. I don't think I need to explain this one. I mean seriously, who does that?!?
If I had read this book before Catch a Falling Star I probably wouldn't have given it a chance so I'm really glad I didn't read this first. What a waste of time.
There are several reasons why I hated this book so much.
First, I thought the reasons that her friend chose were really lame. Some of them didn't even make sense. Like the one where Sean pronounced the name of the cafe wrong and everyone made fun of him. I honestly don't understand how him saying the name wrong made him a jerk. Aren't his friends the jerks for making fun of him? There were one or two reasons that I found plausible for him being a jerk. Like the one where they were playing the word game and he said that a girl, who was not his girlfriend, made him feel "amorous." That reason I can understand, but the other reasons didn't make me think of Sean as a jerk.
Second, Dylan Thomas. I got so sick of reading "Dylan Thomas said this" or "Dylan Thomas did that." Just get rid of the stupid Thomas!
Third, the main character. She wasted her whole trip complaining about Sean. Some of the ways she dealt with this were really immature, like when she threw the soda at him and the poem she read to the whole group. I mean seriously, I know she was upset, but she was in Italy! She might never get the chance to go there again and she wasted the trip.
Fourth, the supposed "cute Italian" she was supposed to meet. I kept wondering when he was going to show up and when he did, I didn't even find him cute. And then you find out he's gay! The way it sounded, she was going to fall in love with this guy and finally get over Sean. The premise for this book was very misleading.
Fifth, when she kissed her teacher. I don't think I need to explain this one. I mean seriously, who does that?!?
If I had read this book before Catch a Falling Star I probably wouldn't have given it a chance so I'm really glad I didn't read this first. What a waste of time.
September 13, 2016
I really did like Dylan Thomas, but not as a love interest. He's an interesting character on his own, and sounded like a fun guy to hang out with. The whole liking Jessa thing seemed more of an afterthought and kind of actually demoted him in my mind. I did love some of the descriptions, but this book really seemed to go one step forward two steps back with her development and interactions with the characters, especially with Cruella and Natalie. First she's sympathetic, then cussing them out, then sympathetic again? Tyler was also a pretty cool guy, but Clarissa, even without physically being in the book, was kind of a clingy but terrible friend, and pretty cowardly. Pretty much a huge jerk.
Some of the writing I didn't really like because it just went one step too far. It wasn't an invisibility cloak, it was a Harry Potter invisibility cloak. It wasn't an etch-a-sketch, it was an Etch A Sketch app on her dad’s iPhone. That kind of bugged me.
Also wouldn't Francesca start flipping out when she realizes she lost the key to her son's safety deposit box? And didn't that guy go completely behind her back without resolving anything with her at all? So didn't Jessa essentially assist in breaking apart a family more than what had already happened? So yeah, Jessa, not really a protagonist I can get behind.
Some of the writing I didn't really like because it just went one step too far. It wasn't an invisibility cloak, it was a Harry Potter invisibility cloak. It wasn't an etch-a-sketch, it was an Etch A Sketch app on her dad’s iPhone. That kind of bugged me.
Also wouldn't Francesca start flipping out when she realizes she lost the key to her son's safety deposit box? And didn't that guy go completely behind her back without resolving anything with her at all? So didn't Jessa essentially assist in breaking apart a family more than what had already happened? So yeah, Jessa, not really a protagonist I can get behind.
June 22, 2024
It ended up being really cute but there were a few moments that made me want to put it down out of sheer embarrassment. I was disappointed that there wasn't a romances like I expected but I'd still recommend if you're looking for a cute contemporary and some really beautifully described locations.
April 26, 2018
Cute story, not great literature, but a fun, light read about a brokenhearted high schooler on a spring break trip with her ex and his new girlfriend.
May 21, 2011
Normally this kind of book isn't one I pick up and immediately sit down and read, but the cover, the Italian setting and a girl reeling from a broken heart peeked my curiosity and I had find out what happens.
After Jessa catches her then boyfriend and another girl, whom she calls big boobed Natalie making out their drama club's barn, Jessa is completely devastated, and broken hearted. To make matters worse she's stuck on their drama club's trip to Italy with them. Her best friend Carisa sends her off with twenty envelopes full of instructions in on to mend her broken heart. I liked the idea of the envelopes, but it quickly became apparent that Jessa' reaction to them caused her to do a few, dare I say stupid things. She is someone I liked at first, but quickly became frustrated with. For one, she does things while in Italy without thinking of the consequences of her actions or how it will make other people feel. I found it hard to relate to her moping over a guy who was obviously a jerk and someone it didn't seem she was with for every long. I can understand her feeling crushed and betrayed, she trusted him. The thing that bothered me the most was the fact she kissed her teacher. Sorry, I can't get over that, even though nothing, thank goodness came from that, but I'm still totally bugged by that quick scene.
Jessa is so consumed with her own grief that she loses herself, and becomes so self absorb with her broken heart doesn't even realize she has two fabulous guys in her life until it's almost too late... I really liked Tyler and Dylan. Tyler was there for Jessa through out the whole trip, supporting on her each of the missions Carisa wrote for her. He was loyal and honest with Jessa and her biggest source of support. Then there's Dylan Thomas who didn't have a lot of scenes in the book, but the ones he did have I liked. He surprised me with the bigger role he played in Jessa's story. Despite the things that bugged me about Jessa, I liked how much she grew on her trip. A lot of revelations on made on the trip, some I felt took away from her story, but she learned a lot about herself, she found things out about her best friend, and came to terms with the fact yes she was hurt by Sean, but she too had acted in ways that wasn't always honorable. She realized things aren't always what they seem, and everyone makes mistakes, it's part of life and growing up.
My favorite aspect of the book is the setting. I loved feeling like I was on a trip in Italy. I liked seeing the sights through the eyes of Jessa and getting a glimpse into what she was experiencing while there. Italy is a beautiful country with a rich history and it was the perfect place for Jessa to heal her broken heart. I'm a little torn about the book. I started off really enjoying it and then about half way through I became a bit frustrated with it. Is this book one I'd recommend? Yes, I still think it's a good read even though it's not a book I fell in love with. Kim's portrayal of a teen dealing with a broken was realistic, which I think teen readers will be able to relate to. Jessa's not a bad character, she just makes some pretty foolish mistakes, but who hasn't? She's a relatable character I think readers will enjoy meeting.
After Jessa catches her then boyfriend and another girl, whom she calls big boobed Natalie making out their drama club's barn, Jessa is completely devastated, and broken hearted. To make matters worse she's stuck on their drama club's trip to Italy with them. Her best friend Carisa sends her off with twenty envelopes full of instructions in on to mend her broken heart. I liked the idea of the envelopes, but it quickly became apparent that Jessa' reaction to them caused her to do a few, dare I say stupid things. She is someone I liked at first, but quickly became frustrated with. For one, she does things while in Italy without thinking of the consequences of her actions or how it will make other people feel. I found it hard to relate to her moping over a guy who was obviously a jerk and someone it didn't seem she was with for every long. I can understand her feeling crushed and betrayed, she trusted him. The thing that bothered me the most was the fact she kissed her teacher. Sorry, I can't get over that, even though nothing, thank goodness came from that, but I'm still totally bugged by that quick scene.
Jessa is so consumed with her own grief that she loses herself, and becomes so self absorb with her broken heart doesn't even realize she has two fabulous guys in her life until it's almost too late... I really liked Tyler and Dylan. Tyler was there for Jessa through out the whole trip, supporting on her each of the missions Carisa wrote for her. He was loyal and honest with Jessa and her biggest source of support. Then there's Dylan Thomas who didn't have a lot of scenes in the book, but the ones he did have I liked. He surprised me with the bigger role he played in Jessa's story. Despite the things that bugged me about Jessa, I liked how much she grew on her trip. A lot of revelations on made on the trip, some I felt took away from her story, but she learned a lot about herself, she found things out about her best friend, and came to terms with the fact yes she was hurt by Sean, but she too had acted in ways that wasn't always honorable. She realized things aren't always what they seem, and everyone makes mistakes, it's part of life and growing up.
My favorite aspect of the book is the setting. I loved feeling like I was on a trip in Italy. I liked seeing the sights through the eyes of Jessa and getting a glimpse into what she was experiencing while there. Italy is a beautiful country with a rich history and it was the perfect place for Jessa to heal her broken heart. I'm a little torn about the book. I started off really enjoying it and then about half way through I became a bit frustrated with it. Is this book one I'd recommend? Yes, I still think it's a good read even though it's not a book I fell in love with. Kim's portrayal of a teen dealing with a broken was realistic, which I think teen readers will be able to relate to. Jessa's not a bad character, she just makes some pretty foolish mistakes, but who hasn't? She's a relatable character I think readers will enjoy meeting.
August 13, 2011
Jessa is in a drama club that is taking a trip of a lifetime to Italy over spring break. Jessa's boyfriend, Sean, is also part of the drama club and is going as well, which leaves her with much excitement.....that is until she finds Sean making out with another girl in the costume barn. Jessa is destroyed by this betrayal, but she is still set on going to Italy even though Sean will be there with his new girlfriend. Unfortunately, her best friend, Carissa, can't go, and sends her a package with twenty reasons why her ex-boyfriend is a "slimy jerk bastard" and challenges her to do something very unlike her everyday. Kim Culbertson's Instructions for a Broken Heart had a lot of potential, but ultimately, it left me wanting more.
Jessa was hard to relate to and quite honestly was hard to take. Here we are in Rome, one of the most magical cities in the world, and she keeps focusing on Sean and his new girlfriend's every move. Yes, that should be on her mind with what she just went through, but comon'......look around you, girl! If anyone can forget a bad heartbreak, Rome is the place to do it, but every other moment, she was focusing on him. There were these glimpses of Jessa getting over Sean and actually enjoying Rome, but then something would happen and she would fall apart again. She was really a hot mess.
The setting, obviously, is incredible. Culbertson takes us to Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast. I was salivating, because I just visited Italy for the first time this past spring. I was marinating in Culbertson's descriptions and could picture it as if I was there with Jessa. I especially enjoyed her descriptions of Capri and the tour of Rome at night. It was to die for and took me right back to my own trip.
The characters in Instructions for a Broken Heart were interesting, especially the minor characters that were part of the drama club. I really liked her good friend, Tyler and Dylan Thomas, too. One part that made my skin crawl was Jessa's relationship with her teacher, Mr. Campbell. Reading these scenes really made me uncomfortable and I didn't like it one bit since I teach teenagers as well. I felt it was extremely inappropriate.
Instructions for a Broken Heart reminded me a bit of 13 Little Blue Envelopes meets Eat Pray Love. It had a lot of potential, but since I couldn't relate to Jessa, she ruined it for me. Granted it does capture first heartbreak very well, but I felt it was missing something. Thankfully, Jessa does find herself on this trip and learns many things about life and love. This is why I adore traveling. You take your trip with you forever and the lessons thats you've learned stay with you. By the end of the trip, Jessa is much stronger.
Jessa was hard to relate to and quite honestly was hard to take. Here we are in Rome, one of the most magical cities in the world, and she keeps focusing on Sean and his new girlfriend's every move. Yes, that should be on her mind with what she just went through, but comon'......look around you, girl! If anyone can forget a bad heartbreak, Rome is the place to do it, but every other moment, she was focusing on him. There were these glimpses of Jessa getting over Sean and actually enjoying Rome, but then something would happen and she would fall apart again. She was really a hot mess.
The setting, obviously, is incredible. Culbertson takes us to Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast. I was salivating, because I just visited Italy for the first time this past spring. I was marinating in Culbertson's descriptions and could picture it as if I was there with Jessa. I especially enjoyed her descriptions of Capri and the tour of Rome at night. It was to die for and took me right back to my own trip.
The characters in Instructions for a Broken Heart were interesting, especially the minor characters that were part of the drama club. I really liked her good friend, Tyler and Dylan Thomas, too. One part that made my skin crawl was Jessa's relationship with her teacher, Mr. Campbell. Reading these scenes really made me uncomfortable and I didn't like it one bit since I teach teenagers as well. I felt it was extremely inappropriate.
Instructions for a Broken Heart reminded me a bit of 13 Little Blue Envelopes meets Eat Pray Love. It had a lot of potential, but since I couldn't relate to Jessa, she ruined it for me. Granted it does capture first heartbreak very well, but I felt it was missing something. Thankfully, Jessa does find herself on this trip and learns many things about life and love. This is why I adore traveling. You take your trip with you forever and the lessons thats you've learned stay with you. By the end of the trip, Jessa is much stronger.
November 18, 2014
I read this book because the cover reminded me of Rachel Berry in the season 3 finale of "Glee." "Slimy Jerk Bastard" brought Jesse to mind. I may or may not have then had a merry old time fitting Glee characters into every role imaginable.
That's not the only reason I loved it, though. I like books with a hook, if you will, and the 20 envelopes added a driving force behind the narrative as I eagerly anticipated both the reason and the instructions to follow in each one. That turned into an intriguing side plot all on its own. I also like reading books about class trips, which helps me relive my own and all the fun I had, so that's a winning formula right there.
I fell in love with nearly all the characters as soon as they were introduced, starting with Jessa, to whom I felt an instant connection as she navigated the waters of her first heartbreak. Tyler was my second fave, the wonderful and supportive friend looking out for her. I also loved her younger teacher and all the conversations they had, how instead of dismissing her broken heart as silly teenage angst, they had real and thoughtful (if brief) conversations.
(spoiler note: )
The rich and descriptive writing style was lovely. I've never had the slightest interest in visiting Italy, but she made it sound beautiful (thus undoing all the damage that Pretty Face did in making it sound like backwards/boredom central).
Do yourselves a favor and don't focus too much attention on the "cute Italian boy" promised in the summary - he shows up late, he's not your endgame (it's not worth hoping he is, and as for the end -- ), and honestly he was the least interesting person in the book for me. Focus on the people around her.
In sum? This is one of the best YA novels I've read so far this year. It's one of the rare few I'm going to have to buy, because I can't wait to start this trip all over again.
That's not the only reason I loved it, though. I like books with a hook, if you will, and the 20 envelopes added a driving force behind the narrative as I eagerly anticipated both the reason and the instructions to follow in each one. That turned into an intriguing side plot all on its own. I also like reading books about class trips, which helps me relive my own and all the fun I had, so that's a winning formula right there.
I fell in love with nearly all the characters as soon as they were introduced, starting with Jessa, to whom I felt an instant connection as she navigated the waters of her first heartbreak. Tyler was my second fave, the wonderful and supportive friend looking out for her. I also loved her younger teacher and all the conversations they had, how instead of dismissing her broken heart as silly teenage angst, they had real and thoughtful (if brief) conversations.
(spoiler note: )
The rich and descriptive writing style was lovely. I've never had the slightest interest in visiting Italy, but she made it sound beautiful (thus undoing all the damage that Pretty Face did in making it sound like backwards/boredom central).
Do yourselves a favor and don't focus too much attention on the "cute Italian boy" promised in the summary - he shows up late, he's not your endgame (it's not worth hoping he is, and as for the end -- ), and honestly he was the least interesting person in the book for me. Focus on the people around her.
In sum? This is one of the best YA novels I've read so far this year. It's one of the rare few I'm going to have to buy, because I can't wait to start this trip all over again.
August 20, 2011
2.5 stars
I hate when I read a book and feel really dense for not getting it. I feel like I should have felt sympathetic towards Jessa and relate to her heart break after having her heart crushed by a slime ball boyfriend but I really couldn't and found it hard to figure out why I should like her at all. If you know why please let me know. I know she's a teenager and just caught her boyfriend rolling around in a tongue lock with another girl but from what we begin to see maybe she did bring it upon herself. She gets so caught up in herself and what's going on in her life that she's oblivious to what's going on around her even with those who are her supposed best friends. Then she obsesses so much over the break up she can't even enjoy herself the tiniest bit even though she is traveling to all these amazing destinations, seeing places I can only dream of and meeting wonderful people like Dylan Thomas, a funny, nice guy, from another school. She even has the nerve at one point to accuse one of her best friends of being distant because he meets someone else on the trip and stops paying her attention 24/7. Then there are all these little things she finds out about her relationship with her boyfriend and best friend that gives you the impression that she was pretty self-absorbed even before the break up.
The other part that wierded me out was her relationship with one of the chaperones Mr. Campbell. Maybe it's the way I read it but some of their interactions seemed totally inappropriate for a teacher/student relationship even if the teacher is young and cool. It would not have been so bad if amidst all of her misery and confusion Jessa acts rashly and does something she knows is totally inappropriate but I got the impression that even though the teacher knows it's wrong he wishes he could pursue it.
The only part that I found fun in reading this book was the wife of one of the chaperones from the school that joins Jessa's school on the tour. The comments that come out of her mouth are so unbelievable that you just have to laugh. She's the epitome of the ugly American tourist and you can't help but feel sorry for everyone that has to travel with her. Other than that this book was quite the let down for me. There are several other things that bothered me but I don't want to get into as it would start giving away bits and pieces of the story but they just did not flow well in my opinion and never came together in the end.
I hate when I read a book and feel really dense for not getting it. I feel like I should have felt sympathetic towards Jessa and relate to her heart break after having her heart crushed by a slime ball boyfriend but I really couldn't and found it hard to figure out why I should like her at all. If you know why please let me know. I know she's a teenager and just caught her boyfriend rolling around in a tongue lock with another girl but from what we begin to see maybe she did bring it upon herself. She gets so caught up in herself and what's going on in her life that she's oblivious to what's going on around her even with those who are her supposed best friends. Then she obsesses so much over the break up she can't even enjoy herself the tiniest bit even though she is traveling to all these amazing destinations, seeing places I can only dream of and meeting wonderful people like Dylan Thomas, a funny, nice guy, from another school. She even has the nerve at one point to accuse one of her best friends of being distant because he meets someone else on the trip and stops paying her attention 24/7. Then there are all these little things she finds out about her relationship with her boyfriend and best friend that gives you the impression that she was pretty self-absorbed even before the break up.
The other part that wierded me out was her relationship with one of the chaperones Mr. Campbell. Maybe it's the way I read it but some of their interactions seemed totally inappropriate for a teacher/student relationship even if the teacher is young and cool. It would not have been so bad if amidst all of her misery and confusion Jessa acts rashly and does something she knows is totally inappropriate but I got the impression that even though the teacher knows it's wrong he wishes he could pursue it.
The only part that I found fun in reading this book was the wife of one of the chaperones from the school that joins Jessa's school on the tour. The comments that come out of her mouth are so unbelievable that you just have to laugh. She's the epitome of the ugly American tourist and you can't help but feel sorry for everyone that has to travel with her. Other than that this book was quite the let down for me. There are several other things that bothered me but I don't want to get into as it would start giving away bits and pieces of the story but they just did not flow well in my opinion and never came together in the end.
April 22, 2011
3.5 stars
‘Instructions for a Broken Heart’ is a read that fell somewhere right in the middle for me. I didn’t love it, though I really liked certain aspects of it. I loved the descriptions of the Italian scenery and all the different monuments and places that Jessa and her classmates visited. I also thought the letters from Jessa’s best friend Carissa were a great plot device. The letters allowed Jessa to do things that were out of character for her, and while a lot of them ended up in catastrophe it was interesting to read about, and they helped Jessa grow.
One reason why I’m sort of on the fence about this book is that I was sort of ambivalent toward Jessa. I felt bad for her, but she had so many confusing emotions running through her that it made it hard to relate. She kept changing her mind about things, and she felt everything SO DEEPLY that at times her narrative voice seemed a bit melodramatic. I appreciated the base emotions that Jessa was expressing, though, and her good heart made it easy enough to root for her.
The secondary characters each had their moments as well. Carissa, with her putting all the letters together, appears to be a great best friend, but some of the letters’ content showed how this might not necessarily be the case. I was a bit confused about why this drama really needed to be part of the plot, because there was definitely enough going on already. Jessa’s other BFF Tyler was an awesome addition to the story as he was funny, sweet, and supportive until suddenly he’s not: his character transformation seemed a bit sudden, but for the most part he's a really enjoyable character. Then there’s Dylan Thomas who is smart and cute, but is too absent for much of the story.
This is a interesting (though predictable) story with a lot of good parts to it, and it was well written as well. I just feel like it’s missing a certain je ne sais quoi. I know that’s not very helpful, but despite the issues above I can’t exactly put my finger on what stopped me from absolutely loving it. If you enjoy travel stories or narratives with tasks outlined in letters then this is well worth a read. It has a good message to it about being yourself and embracing your emotions without being ruled by them.
‘Instructions for a Broken Heart’ is a read that fell somewhere right in the middle for me. I didn’t love it, though I really liked certain aspects of it. I loved the descriptions of the Italian scenery and all the different monuments and places that Jessa and her classmates visited. I also thought the letters from Jessa’s best friend Carissa were a great plot device. The letters allowed Jessa to do things that were out of character for her, and while a lot of them ended up in catastrophe it was interesting to read about, and they helped Jessa grow.
One reason why I’m sort of on the fence about this book is that I was sort of ambivalent toward Jessa. I felt bad for her, but she had so many confusing emotions running through her that it made it hard to relate. She kept changing her mind about things, and she felt everything SO DEEPLY that at times her narrative voice seemed a bit melodramatic. I appreciated the base emotions that Jessa was expressing, though, and her good heart made it easy enough to root for her.
The secondary characters each had their moments as well. Carissa, with her putting all the letters together, appears to be a great best friend, but some of the letters’ content showed how this might not necessarily be the case. I was a bit confused about why this drama really needed to be part of the plot, because there was definitely enough going on already. Jessa’s other BFF Tyler was an awesome addition to the story as he was funny, sweet, and supportive until suddenly he’s not: his character transformation seemed a bit sudden, but for the most part he's a really enjoyable character. Then there’s Dylan Thomas who is smart and cute, but is too absent for much of the story.
This is a interesting (though predictable) story with a lot of good parts to it, and it was well written as well. I just feel like it’s missing a certain je ne sais quoi. I know that’s not very helpful, but despite the issues above I can’t exactly put my finger on what stopped me from absolutely loving it. If you enjoy travel stories or narratives with tasks outlined in letters then this is well worth a read. It has a good message to it about being yourself and embracing your emotions without being ruled by them.
May 11, 2011
Just before she’s set to leave for Italy with her high school drama club, Jessa catches her boyfriend, Sean, making out with another girl. Going on the trip is harder than she thought it would be, especially because Sean and his new girlfriend are also part of the drama club.
So she sets out to get over Sean with the help of her best friend, Carissa, who has sent along instructions for Jessa to do one thing each day of her trip that takes her out of her comfort zone and onto the path of getting over Sean.
Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson takes Jessa on a journey of discovery about herself and the people around her. And while I think I could recover from a broken heart quite nicely while traveling around Italy, Culbertson paints a picture of how it could be a challenge too. Everywhere Jessa looks she sees people who appear to be in love. And everywhere she goes she would love to share her observations about the people and the countryside with someone she cares about.
As Jessa takes on each instruction, she discovers that relationships can’t necessarily be taken at face value, and people are more complicated that the veneers they display to the world. As she recognizes what was good and what was bad in her just-ended relationship, Jessa also learns how she wants to go forward. Culbertson does an excellent job of capturing the sense of insecurity that comes from rejection and the volatility and stress that many teens experience.
There are lots of issues for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up to discuss in Instructions for a Broken Heart. How do you maintain your sense of self when you date someone? How do you keep self-confidence when a relationship ends? How do you determine if your activities support your passions or other people’s expectations of you?
So she sets out to get over Sean with the help of her best friend, Carissa, who has sent along instructions for Jessa to do one thing each day of her trip that takes her out of her comfort zone and onto the path of getting over Sean.
Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson takes Jessa on a journey of discovery about herself and the people around her. And while I think I could recover from a broken heart quite nicely while traveling around Italy, Culbertson paints a picture of how it could be a challenge too. Everywhere Jessa looks she sees people who appear to be in love. And everywhere she goes she would love to share her observations about the people and the countryside with someone she cares about.
As Jessa takes on each instruction, she discovers that relationships can’t necessarily be taken at face value, and people are more complicated that the veneers they display to the world. As she recognizes what was good and what was bad in her just-ended relationship, Jessa also learns how she wants to go forward. Culbertson does an excellent job of capturing the sense of insecurity that comes from rejection and the volatility and stress that many teens experience.
There are lots of issues for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 14 and up to discuss in Instructions for a Broken Heart. How do you maintain your sense of self when you date someone? How do you keep self-confidence when a relationship ends? How do you determine if your activities support your passions or other people’s expectations of you?
Read
November 17, 2011Not rating because I didn't finish this one. I made it most of the way and skimmed through to the end.
Why, I ask, why is it always a boy who has to send a girl toward her crisis of person hood? Toward her moment of becoming? Sometimes it makes me sad this is the message that gets sent again and again. I get it. Relationships are important, but they shouldn't be the catalyst for a girl becoming herself and realizing she's lost who she is and needs to find it.
The biggest problems I had with this book were the writing and character development. The third person didn't work here, especially with the instructions aspect built in. It left me on the outside of what Jessa actually FELT about things. We see her actions but does it really build a sympathy for her with the reader? It doesn't, at least for me. I'm on the outside watching a girl I don't know be broken down by a boy who...I never got to know and thus could never have an opinion of. Of course, there's a built-in anger because he's a cheater, but that's cheating me as a reader out of character development and relationship building.
The setting of Italy is lovely, but that's really all this book had going for it. And I think it goes back to the choice of third person built around this "get to know yourself" better set of instructions from Carissa. Which...I needed to know her better, too. What made her an expert? Why does Jessa trust her challenges blindly? Also, so much of what Jessa does is out of what little character I know of her. I think, that is. It's sort of weird to read these "out of character" situations when I don't feel I have a grip on the character enough to understand what is character, what should be character, and what is the ultimate becoming.
Why, I ask, why is it always a boy who has to send a girl toward her crisis of person hood? Toward her moment of becoming? Sometimes it makes me sad this is the message that gets sent again and again. I get it. Relationships are important, but they shouldn't be the catalyst for a girl becoming herself and realizing she's lost who she is and needs to find it.
The biggest problems I had with this book were the writing and character development. The third person didn't work here, especially with the instructions aspect built in. It left me on the outside of what Jessa actually FELT about things. We see her actions but does it really build a sympathy for her with the reader? It doesn't, at least for me. I'm on the outside watching a girl I don't know be broken down by a boy who...I never got to know and thus could never have an opinion of. Of course, there's a built-in anger because he's a cheater, but that's cheating me as a reader out of character development and relationship building.
The setting of Italy is lovely, but that's really all this book had going for it. And I think it goes back to the choice of third person built around this "get to know yourself" better set of instructions from Carissa. Which...I needed to know her better, too. What made her an expert? Why does Jessa trust her challenges blindly? Also, so much of what Jessa does is out of what little character I know of her. I think, that is. It's sort of weird to read these "out of character" situations when I don't feel I have a grip on the character enough to understand what is character, what should be character, and what is the ultimate becoming.
July 19, 2011
Instructions for a broken heart by Kim Culbertson
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews
Three days before her drama club's trip to Italy, Jessa Gardner discovers her boyfriend in the costume barn with another girl. Jessa is left with a care package from her best friend titled "Top Twenty Reasons He's a Slimy Jerk Bastard," instructing her to do one un-Jessa-like thing each day of the trip. At turns hilarious and heartwrenching, Instructions for a Broken Heart paints a magical Italy in which Jessa learns she must figure out life-and romance-for herself. (Synopsis provided by goodreads)
I first heard about this book on another book blog, it sounded like a lot of fun. I found Jessa to be a very fun and very believable character. The different instructions that her friend had her do ranged from the simple to the outrageous. However they were all fun.
This book was a very fast light fun read a good beach read. The interactions between all of the characters felt real and the dialog was witty.
I loved the conversation towards the end of the book that Jessa has with Natalie. The book had a wonderful ending and I enjoyed the whole thing.
I had an issue with an inappropriate interaction with Jessa and one of her teachers. But Culbertson never made it seem okay, she made it very clear that it was inappropriate, so that made me feel a little bit better about it.
The images of Italy were very vivid and made me want to visit. I'd read this one again.
* Paperback: 304 pages
* Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (May 1, 2011)
* Author: Kim Culbertson
* Overall rating: *** 3 out of 5 stars
* Cover art: I love the cover art.
* Obtained: My personal bookshelf.
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews
Three days before her drama club's trip to Italy, Jessa Gardner discovers her boyfriend in the costume barn with another girl. Jessa is left with a care package from her best friend titled "Top Twenty Reasons He's a Slimy Jerk Bastard," instructing her to do one un-Jessa-like thing each day of the trip. At turns hilarious and heartwrenching, Instructions for a Broken Heart paints a magical Italy in which Jessa learns she must figure out life-and romance-for herself. (Synopsis provided by goodreads)
I first heard about this book on another book blog, it sounded like a lot of fun. I found Jessa to be a very fun and very believable character. The different instructions that her friend had her do ranged from the simple to the outrageous. However they were all fun.
This book was a very fast light fun read a good beach read. The interactions between all of the characters felt real and the dialog was witty.
I loved the conversation towards the end of the book that Jessa has with Natalie. The book had a wonderful ending and I enjoyed the whole thing.
I had an issue with an inappropriate interaction with Jessa and one of her teachers. But Culbertson never made it seem okay, she made it very clear that it was inappropriate, so that made me feel a little bit better about it.
The images of Italy were very vivid and made me want to visit. I'd read this one again.
* Paperback: 304 pages
* Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (May 1, 2011)
* Author: Kim Culbertson
* Overall rating: *** 3 out of 5 stars
* Cover art: I love the cover art.
* Obtained: My personal bookshelf.
February 21, 2012
I really liked this a lot and there are some specific things that will appeal to certain of my GR friends.
1) Well-described travel. Not just Italy, but the weight of a non-stop bus trip, plus the inter-group hookups that happen when you're traveling with multiple groups. I took one of those trips the summer after high school. It is frighteningly realistic.
2) There's a student-teacher thing.
I do have to say, though, that I'm noticing more and more that I don't like the way female friendship is written in YA. I know it's not a fixed construct, and that there are lots of different kinds (and to give this book credit I GOT why the girls were friends, which is more than some books have given me), but there just seems to be this run of backstabbing and lies in the stuff I've been reading lately and it bothers me.
And that stopped being about this book specifically. Read it! I think many of you would like it a great deal.
1) Well-described travel. Not just Italy, but the weight of a non-stop bus trip, plus the inter-group hookups that happen when you're traveling with multiple groups. I took one of those trips the summer after high school. It is frighteningly realistic.
2) There's a student-teacher thing.
I do have to say, though, that I'm noticing more and more that I don't like the way female friendship is written in YA. I know it's not a fixed construct, and that there are lots of different kinds (and to give this book credit I GOT why the girls were friends, which is more than some books have given me), but there just seems to be this run of backstabbing and lies in the stuff I've been reading lately and it bothers me.
And that stopped being about this book specifically. Read it! I think many of you would like it a great deal.
July 28, 2020
I was looking for a YA book set in Italy to send to my niece, who is taking a similar trip. This is not a good choice. Even if I could get past the double stuff drama (it's YA AND features a bunch of drama club kids who are always nattering on about poetry and holding "creativity salons"), the descriptions of Italy are cursory and worst of all, the itinerary is jacked. I can forgive a lot but not a poorly planned vacation. Rome to Florence to Venice and then back to Rome? Absolutely ludicrous. Fly into Rome and out of Venice (Milan if you must) or vice versa. I shudder to think what terrible ideas an inexperienced traveler may come away with after reading this book.
December 26, 2014
It's about healing, forgiveness, self-discovery, and growing up. There's a lot of scenery, theater references, introspection, and emotions. The plot was predictable in places, and some might feel like this subject matter has been done and overdone, but I ended up really enjoying it! The ending made the book for me, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves traveling, coming of age stories, and light contemporary, summery reads!
(Read my full review on the blog.)
(Read my full review on the blog.)
October 12, 2011
What you'd expect.
That said, I'm giving it three stars because I thought one thing that this book did really well was portray student-teacher relationships, especially student-teacher relationships where the people involved are interacting in an arena much different from your traditional classroom. This was really, really nice to see.
That said, I'm giving it three stars because I thought one thing that this book did really well was portray student-teacher relationships, especially student-teacher relationships where the people involved are interacting in an arena much different from your traditional classroom. This was really, really nice to see.
January 21, 2014
The descriptions of Italy alone make this book worth reading, but what's most admirable is how Culbertson creates a truly original, intelligent, inspiring book with what may, at first glance, feel like predictable-outcome material. You will be surprised and delighted by Jessa's journey, and read some lovely writing in the process!
August 21, 2011
This is a terrific Y/A book that feels amazingly authentic. It brought me back to the days. Culbertson creates a strong, likeable and believable female protagonist. I could see Emma Stone starring as Jessa in the movie. Hollywood, where are you? This is a natural for adaptation!
August 15, 2013
Ever been to the country of love having just been dumped? Well, Jessa is there, and the only thing that's getting her through are the instructions her friend is making her follow. Wacky and touching, I really enjoyed this story and the lessons we learn along our journey.
July 3, 2011
Loved it.
Would easily recommend to pretty much everyone :D
Would easily recommend to pretty much everyone :D
November 5, 2017
How can you get over the fact that your boyfriend cheated on you while in a costume barn? I'm sure Jessa asled herself this many times before heading to the beautiful place known as Italy. Little did she know that her best friend, Clarissa, already figured that one out for her. The question is, can she step out of her comfort zone and follow the instructions so clearly written for her on each envelope? Can Jessa get over a broken heart while being trapped near her ex making out with another girl?
"Instructions for a Broken Heart" has a lot of good things going for it. It's characters were alright. They didn't grow as much as most would hope for, but they are relatable. They each have a very distinguished personality & that's one of the best things! Although..I must admit, Jessa is not my favorite character. She is stuck in her own little world and fails to witness the world around her. It was one guy out of a trillion...you deserve so much better than a slime ball! Along with characters, Kim describes Italy wonderfully! It almost feels as if you are travelling alongside Jessa and her friends. This novel is made realistic. Something that I firmly believe the youth of today needs. I personally needed to read this & have several parts marked. This isn't a love story..It's a story of hope. Hope of moving on, hoping of things turning out better, hope for forgiveness, & hope for new love.
Not everything was perfect though. It wasn't horrible, but I absolutely hated how it randomly skipped pieces. It felt like we missed certain parts of the story..like a movie that slips a scene! I also wasn't fond of the writing style so to say. At some points it seemed really sketchy, like it didn't flow well.
All in all, I would recommend this to younger girls. As well as anyone who has gone through a bad breakup. It adds some comedy to the situation. There's no sex scenes or anything that can be considered a trigger so I don't see that it could be a problem for anyone to read. There is cuss words periodically though. I also might add that the cussing isn't a huge abundance. Just some to keep in mind. It was a really fast read & I can see myself possibly reading it again or gifting it to a friend.
"Instructions for a Broken Heart" has a lot of good things going for it. It's characters were alright. They didn't grow as much as most would hope for, but they are relatable. They each have a very distinguished personality & that's one of the best things! Although..I must admit, Jessa is not my favorite character. She is stuck in her own little world and fails to witness the world around her. It was one guy out of a trillion...you deserve so much better than a slime ball! Along with characters, Kim describes Italy wonderfully! It almost feels as if you are travelling alongside Jessa and her friends. This novel is made realistic. Something that I firmly believe the youth of today needs. I personally needed to read this & have several parts marked. This isn't a love story..It's a story of hope. Hope of moving on, hoping of things turning out better, hope for forgiveness, & hope for new love.
Not everything was perfect though. It wasn't horrible, but I absolutely hated how it randomly skipped pieces. It felt like we missed certain parts of the story..like a movie that slips a scene! I also wasn't fond of the writing style so to say. At some points it seemed really sketchy, like it didn't flow well.
All in all, I would recommend this to younger girls. As well as anyone who has gone through a bad breakup. It adds some comedy to the situation. There's no sex scenes or anything that can be considered a trigger so I don't see that it could be a problem for anyone to read. There is cuss words periodically though. I also might add that the cussing isn't a huge abundance. Just some to keep in mind. It was a really fast read & I can see myself possibly reading it again or gifting it to a friend.
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